“Only about a third (36%) of Republican Party Primary voters say they would vote to re-elect U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio while almost as many voters (30 percent) would vote for ‘a new person to do a better job." writes Mitchell about his poll, released Sept. 6. “Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of Republican primary voters are either ready to vote for a ‘new person’ or are ‘not sure’ who they will vote for.”

“Couple that with the fact that only four-in-ten of the respondents (40 percent) have a favorable impression of him and just half (50 percent) approve of the job he is doing,” continues Mitchell, “and you have to conclude that he is vulnerable in a GOP primary.”

Bentivolio became an instant front-runner last year after Rep. Thaddeus McCotter stepped down abruptly in mid-campaign. The district includes parts of western Wayne and Oakland.

Dave Trott, a 52-year-old Birmingham lawyer with national political ties, is challenging Bentivolio for re-nomination. "Let's get the right voice in Washington,” says a campaign site launched this month. His first commercial is below.